Tony LaRussa In DUI Arrest

MARCH 22--Meet Tony LaRussa. The manager of the reigning World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals, was arrested early this morning for drunk driving. LaRussa, 62, was popped in Jupiter, Florida, where the team's spring training facility is located. According to Jupiter Police Department reports, LaRussa was found slumped over at the wheel of a Ford SUV that had stopped in a traffic intersection around midnight. After repeated knocks at the window, LaRussa awoke. He told one officer that it had been a 'long day' for him and he was returning home from dinner, during which he had 'several glasses of wine.' During questioning by Officer John O'Keefe, LaRussa answered 'no' when asked if he was under the influence. However, after LaRussa failed a series of roadside sobriety tests (which were videotaped), he was arrested. For example, when asked to recite the alphabet, LaRussa stumbled after 'n.' He claimed, according to a report, that the letter was followed by 'i, z, m, n, o, p, q, r, s, t, v, z, t, u, v..........x,y,z with a pause.' Breathalyzer tests later administered at the Palm Beach County Jail showed LaRussa's blood alcohol content to be .093, above Florida's .08 legal limit. After posting $500 bond, LaRussa was released at 8:20 AM from the Palm Beach lockup, where the below booking photo was snapped. Upon his release, LaRussa was given back his personal property, which included four league championship rings awarded to him for piloting the Cardinals and the Oakland Athletics. (6 pages)